How do you differentiate between someone loving you or being codependent

[polkadottdress]

NC for this.
Without going into the particulars, my recent Ex is saying things like ;

"You are my world"
"My life is over now"
"Everything I did was for you"
"There's no point in anything anymore without you"
"You still have your family, I have no one"

I have always thought this man was in love with me but after doing some research I believe he may have just been codependent?

Anyone have any experience with this?

He sounds massively manipulative, those things he's saying. You do not owe anyone a relationship. Block him, sever all ties. He may have loved you once, or he may not - but there is no love in what he is saying now.

You don't need to work out if he loved you or was codependent, you only have to recognise that his words do not change the fact that the relationship wasn't working.

However, as a guide - no-one can truly love a person they don't know. So if he was throwing around the 'L' word early on, it's not real love. It's either mistaking infatuation chemicals for love, or it is codependency/love addiction/manipulation.

Love does not come from need. Love is able to let go, even though it hurts. Love is about what is best for the other person.

He doesn't care about anything at the moment except manipulating you back to him. That is control not love.